Review - Renault Megane E-Tech

Not only does it wear one of the most important names in the Renault family, but its brand-new underpinnings give us a look at what’s to come from Renault’s future battery-electric vehicle lineup.

How well does the Renault Megane E-Tech live up to expectations, and hold its own against an ever-growing list of competitors? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Renault Megane E-Tech Competition

Starting Price: $64,990

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Renault Megane E-Tech is being offered to buyers here in a single, high-specification variant called the E-Tech Techno EV60 priced at $64,990 before on-road costs are applied.

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Renault Megane E-Tech (TECHNO EV60) Specifications

What Features Does the Renault Megane E-Tech Have?

The Renault Megane E-Tech comes riding on a set of 20-inch alloys and picks up a set of adaptive LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry & start, dual-zone climate control, cloth and leatherette upholstery with heated front seats, a rear-view camera with front and rear parking sensors and ambient interior lighting.

On the tech front, the Renault Megane E-Tech comes packing a wireless charging pad, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9.0-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto and a six-speaker sound system from Arkamys Auditorium.

Range Features:

• 20-inch alloys

• Adaptive LED headlights 

• Cloth & leatherette upholstery 

• Heated steering wheel 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors 

• Ambient lighting 

• Wireless smartphone charging 

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 

• 9.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Six-speaker Arkamys Auditorium sound system

Is the Renault Megane E-Tech Fast?

The Renault Megane comes powered by a single electric motor sitting over the front axle that pushes out 160kW of power and 300Nm of torque.

Translated to on-road performance, the Megane E-Tech hits 100km/h from a standstill in 7.4 seconds, putting it somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to acceleration.

Renault says the Megane E-Tech has a braked towing capacity of 900kg and 750kg of unbraked towing power.

How Far Can the Renault Megane E-Tech Drive on a Single Charge?

Renault’s official energy consumption claims give the E-Tech Techno EV60 range figures of 454km on a single charge, as tested on the WLTP test cycle.

Power for the electric motor comes supplied by a 60kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with the company stating the Megane E-Tech consumes electricity at a rate of 15.6kWh per 100km, translating to 454km of maximum driving range per charge.

How Fast Can the Renault Megane E-Tech Charge in Public and at Home?

Renault’s 60kWh lithium-ion battery pack powering the Megane E-Tech can be DC fast-charged at speeds up to 130kW, offering a 15-80 per cent charge in 36-minutes, with a full charge on a 130kW DC fast charger taking one hour and thirteen minutes.

We’ll list all the charging times, tracking zero to 100 per cent charges, depending on your charging infrastructure below.

• 130kW DC Fast Charge: 1:13 

• 22kW AC Public Charger: 3:10 

• 11kW AC Home/Public Charger: 6:25 

• 7kW AC Home Charger: 9:11

• 3.7kW AC Wall Box: 17:51 

• Home Outlet: 30:28

How Big is the Renault Megane E-Tech?

The Renault Megane E-Tech comes riding on a platform similar in size to the Renault Captur compact SUV, though the Megane’s package is actually larger.

In total, the Renault Megane measures 4200mm long, 1768mm wide and 1500mm tall while offering a wheelbase that spans 2685mm, meaning its wheelbase is slightly longer than the Captur and more on par with midsize SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5.

This means that the Renault Megane E-Tech has an abundance of space in the front of the cabin, even for tall drivers, while there’s still enough space in the second row of the cabin for adult passengers.

Renault says the Megane E-Tech has a boot measuring in at 440L with all the seats standing, expanding to 1332L with the second row folded flat.

Is it Safe and Packed with Safety Tech?

While the Renault Megane E-Tech is yet to be tested specifically by ANCAP, it has picked up a five-star safety rating from its European-equivalent Euro NCAP.

In those tests, the Renault Megane E-Tech scored 85 per cent for adult prtoection, 88 per cent for child protection, 65 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 79 per cent for safety assist.

As standard, the Megane E-Tech picks up a long list of safety equipment that includes forward and rear autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, junction and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane departure alerts, tyre pressure monitoring and driver attention alerts.

Our Verdict: Is the Renault Megane E-Tech Worth it?

In typical Renault fashion, the Megane E-Tech adds a sense of personality and charisma to the world of battery-electric vehicles, a great option for those looking for a departure from your conventional electric vehicle package.

The outsize oozes style, while the decent range figures, generous entertainment and safety equipment lists help to carve itself out a solid footing in the ever-competitive world of battery-electric SUV packages.

If you’re looking to make the switch to a hybrid, plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) or a battery-electric vehicle, be sure to get in touch with one of our car-buying specialists who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Eight-year/160,000km battery warranty 

3. 15.6kWh per 100km translates to 454km driving range figures 

4. 60kWh battery pack paired with electric motor producing 160kW/300Nm 

5. Five-star EURO NCAP safety rating